Top Pennsylvania political leaders are condemning an effort to put forward a ballot measure in Pittsburgh that would require the city to cut ties with any entity that does business with Israel.

Critics say the broadly worded measure, which is being challenged by Pittsburgh city controller Rachael Heisler, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and several synagogues, would stop basic city functions and could prevent Jewish institutions from accessing critical city services. City officials say it could also violate state and federal law. 

The group behind the referendum was funded by the Democratic Socialists of America. Local Jewish leaders say they’re confident that legal challenges will be successful and the measure won’t actually appear on the November ballot.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro spoke out against the ballot measure.

“Governor Shapiro has long opposed plans to boycott, divest, and sanction Israel, and he remains opposed to these efforts. This referendum, if passed, would limit the Commonwealth’s ability to do business with the City of Pittsburgh under existing state law — an outcome the Governor does not support,” said Shapiro spokesperson Manuel Bonder.

Both of Pennsylvania’s Democratic senators also condemned the referendum effort on Thursday.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) called it “rank antisemitism” and “an affront to the region’s Jewish community” in a post on X.

Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) also said he “strongly condemn[s]” the effort, “which targets Pittsburgh’s Jewish community and Jewish organizations. As antisemitic incidents are on the rise across the Nation, I will always stand with the Jewish community in Pittsburgh and across the Commonwealth.”

David McCormick, the Republican Senate candidate running against Casey, also blasted the proposal.

“I stand hand-in-hand with Pittsburgh’s Jewish Community in their battle against this abhorrent antisemitic referendum targeting those who do business with Israel,” McCormick said. “It is beyond comprehension that Pittsburgh, as the site of the worst antisemitic attack in US history, continues to be subject to an onslaught of hate.”

He said that the city’s Jewish community “continues to be singled out and targeted” and that “we have to put an end to these dangerous and insidious attacks on our Jewish community and attempts to [de]legitimize Israel.”

Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA), who’s running for reelection in a swing district, rejected the proposal.

“I abhor this measure,” Cartwright said in a statement to Jewish Insider. “It is ill-conceived and harmful on many levels. I hope the citizens of Pittsburgh have better sense than to vote for it.”

JI contacted all members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation on Thursday about the referendum; none of the others provided comment.

The group supporting the referendum collected 15,000 signatories to place the measure on the ballot, which they filed last week. Volunteers organized by the Beacon Coalition, a nonpartisan Jewish advocacy group, found the measure was supported by staffers for some prominent local leaders, including city officials and a former staffer for Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA). Jewish community opponents also allege that a significant number of the signatures are invalid. The deadline for signatures passed last week.

“When the petition was filed it was clear that it would harm all residents of the city of Pittsburgh by cutting off critical technical, health, and financial resources and directly target Jewish institutions,” said Jeremy Kazzaz, the executive director of the Beacon Coalition. 

Jeffrey Finkelstein, the director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, said that the measure, if passed, would have severe consequences not only for the Jewish community but the city as a whole.

He said it is so vaguely and broadly worded that it could prohibit emergency services to the federation or other Jewish entities and could endanger their nonprofit status and other city services.

Beyond the Jewish community, the measure could block the city from purchasing basic needs like computers from Dell or ambulances from Ford, both of which do business in Israel, or using medical technologies developed in Israel at local hospitals.

Kazzaz said that volunteers reviewed each signature and are “confident that the petitioners fell well short of the required number of valid participants and that the challenge will be successful” — meaning the petition is unlikely to actually appear on the November ballot. 

Finkelstein echoed that view: “They are not even close to enough signatures to put this on the ballot in November,” adding that the legislation could also violate the state’s anti-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions law.

“I’m extremely confident” that the measure will be blocked “but I never want to be overconfident,” Finkelstein said. “Just on the signatures alone, this shouldn’t even be considered.”

Kazzaz and Finkelstein both expressed appreciation to Casey and Fetterman for speaking out against the referendum, but expressed concerns about the response from other local officials, including Mayor Ed Gainey, who declined to ask the city’s solicitor to challenge the measure’s legality.

“[Gainey] did not do that, and we are disappointed that he did not do so,” Finkelstein said.

Gainey said in a statement to JI that his office is not challenging the measure but has “serious concerns about conflicts with state and federal law that would prevent it from being enforceable,” adding that the city is “reviewing” potential issues.

Gainey described the war in Gaza as a “very charged topic that has engaged the passion and activism of many of our residents,” which had “created both new divisions… as well as new opportunities for us to understand one another and keep each other safe.”

He said his priorities are unity and safety of residents. 

“This was displayed in my administration’s efforts to bring to the table members of the Palestinian, Muslim and Jewish communities to listen to their concerns in order to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the encampment at the University of Pittsburgh,” Gainey said. “This was also displayed in our continued engagement and dialogue with leaders of the Jewish community, as well as the public condemnation of acts of antisemitism. The efforts of my administration exemplify our commitment to EVERY resident.”

Gainey’s communications director resigned this week amid scrutiny of her decision to sign the petition.

Finkelstein warned that Pittsburgh could be a “canary in the coal mine” for similar efforts in other cities, “and I just want to make sure those communities prepare.” He also praised the unity and initiative of volunteers and leaders in the Jewish community who stepped up to review the signatures.